Bern, Switzerland – In a decisive vote on Tuesday, Switzerland’s National Council dismissed a committee motion advocating for the establishment of a fund dedicated to the reconstruction of Ukraine. The rejection, with 111 votes against and 71 in favor, underscored the Council’s reluctance to allocate funds for this specific purpose.
The motion, which proposed that the fund should not draw from the regular budget of international cooperation, aimed to prevent a significant reduction in vital assistance to populations in other regions. Claudia Friedl (PS/SG), representing the committee, emphasized the necessity for the fund to be treated as an extraordinary measure.
Opposition to the motion came primarily from the UDC, the PLR, and a majority of centrist officials. They argued that the conditions for extraordinary financing were not met and contended that, considering anticipated budget constraints in the upcoming years, Parliament must establish clear priorities. Alex Farinelli (PLR/TI) asserted that defining these priorities was crucial in light of future fiscal responsibilities.
Adding to the opposition, the Federal Council expressed its disagreement with the proposed motion. The Council highlighted that the upcoming international cooperation strategy already allocates a substantial amount of 1.5 billion francs for Ukraine and the surrounding region.
